رُوَّعَتْshe was stricken بِالفِرَاقِby parting بَعْدَafter الفِرَاقِparting
رُوَّعَتْ بِالفِرَاقِ بَعْدَ الفِرَاقِ
وَبِهَاand within her مَاwhat بِهَاis within her مِنَof الأشْواقِlongings
وَبِهَا مَا بِهَا مِنَ الأشْواقِ
She was stricken by parting after parting,
She was distressed by separation after separation
And burdened with all the longings she bears.
And what she has of yearning
بَعْلَبَكٌّBaalbek تَبْكِيweeps وَلِيداًa son تَرَدَّىfell
بَعْلَبَكٌّ تَبْكِي وَلِيداً تَرَدَّى
نَازِحاًfar from home وَاحْتَوَتْهُand enfolded him أَرضُthe earth العِرَاقِIraq
نَازِحاً وَاحْتَوَتْهُ أَرضُ العِرَاقِ
Baalbek weeps for a son who fell,
Baalbek cries for Waleed who threw himself
Far from home, enfolded by the earth of Iraq.
Fleeing, and the land of Iraq embraced him
كَانَwas سُلوَانَهَاher solace رَجَاءُthe hope تَلاَقٍa reunion
كَانَ سُلوَانَهَا رَجَاءُ تَلاَقٍ
أَيْنَwhere أَمْسَىhas become مِنْهَاfrom her رَجَاءُthe hope التّلاَقِيreunion
أَيْنَ أَمْسَى مِنْهَا رَجَاءُ التّلاَقِي
Her solace had been the hope of reunion;
His solace had been the hope of reunion
Where has her hope of reunion gone?
Where did her hope for reunion end up?
لاَdo not تَخَافِيfear اغْتِرَابَهُhis being away from home وَتَخَالِيand suppose
لاَ تَخَافِي اغْتِرَابَهُ وَتَخَالِي
أَنَّthat بُعْداًdistance تَبَاعُدُthe separation الآفَاقِhorizons
أَنَّ بُعْداً تَبَاعُدُ الآفَاقِ
Do not fear his being far from home, nor suppose
Don’t be afraid of his estrangement and aloofness
That separation is the distance between horizons.
That distance makes horizons diverge
إنَّماonly النَّأيَremoteness فِيin اخْتِلاَفِdiffering المَرَاميaims
إنَّما النَّأيَ فِي اخْتِلاَفِ المَرَامي
وَتَنَابِيand mutual discord الخلاَلِcharacter traits وَالأَخْلاقِand morals
وَتَنَابِي الخلاَلِ وَالأَخْلاقِ
Distance lies only in differing aims,
In fact, estrangement is only in divergence of aims
And in discordant traits and morals.
And branching out of flaws and morals
لَيْسَthere is no فِيin مَوْطِنِthe homeland الكِرَامِthe noble اغْتِرَابٌestrangement
لَيْسَ فِي مَوْطِنِ الكِرَامِ اغْتِرَابٌ
لِكَرِيمِfor a noble person الأُصُولِorigins وَالأَعْراقِand ancestry
لِكَرِيمِ الأُصُولِ وَالأَعْراقِ
There is no estrangement in the homeland of the noble
There is no estrangement in the abode of the honorable
For one of noble roots and lineage.
Of noble origin and lineage
لَحْدُthe grave ذَاكَthat الفَقِيدِdeparted one إِنْif ضَنَّتِwithheld
لَحْدُ ذَاكَ الفَقِيدِ إِنْ ضَنَّتِ
السُّحبُthe clouds سَقَتْهُwatered it سُحْبٌclouds مِنَfrom الآمَاقِinner eye corners
السُّحبُ سَقَتْهُ سُحْبٌ مِنَ الآمَاقِ
That departed one's grave—if the clouds withhold,
That martyr’s grave, even if the clouds are stingy
Clouds from weeping eyes will water it.
Will be watered by clouds from the depths
وَيُحَيِّيand greets حَجِيجَهُhis pilgrims العِزَّةُdignity
وَيُحَيِّي حَجِيجَهُ العِزَّةُ
القَعْساءُunyielding فِيin هَبْيَةٍawe (likely هيبة) وَفِيand in إِطْرَاقِbowed silence
القَعْساءُ فِي هَبْيَةٍ وَفِي إِطْرَاقِ
And dignity greets his pilgrims,
And the inviolable sanctuary will revive its pilgrims
Unyielding, amid awe and bowed silence.
The lofty one, with a gift and unfurling
رُسْتُمٌRustum كانَwas فِيin العِرَاقِIraq مِنَamong القَوْthe people (first part)
رُسْتُمٌ كانَ فِي العِرَاقِ مِنَ القَوْ
مِ(completes 'people') وَزَكىand confirmed دَعْوَاهُhis claim بِالمِصْدَاقِwith proof
مِ وَزَكى دَعْوَاهُ بِالمِصْدَاقِ
Rustum, in Iraq, was one of its people,
Rustum who had been among the people of Iraq
And confirmed his claim with proof.
His claim verified by proof
عَاشَhe lived فِيهِمْamong them مُحَبَّباًcherished وَحَبِيباًand beloved
عَاشَ فِيهِمْ مُحَبَّباً وَحَبِيباً
مُخْلِصاًsincere in وُدَّهُhis affection بِغَيْرِwithout مَذَاقِadulteration
مُخْلِصاً وُدَّهُ بِغَيْرِ مَذَاقِ
He lived among them, cherished and beloved,
He lived among them, loved and loving
Sincere in his affection, without adulteration.
Sincere, his affection without taste
مَالِكاًwinning مِنْهُمُfrom them القُلُوبِthe hearts بِزِينَاwith adornments (first part)
مَالِكاً مِنْهُمُ القُلُوبِ بِزِينَا
تِ(completes 'adornments') السَّجايَاcharacter traits وَبِالطِّباعِand with dispositions الرِّقَاقِgentle
تِ السَّجايَا وَبِالطِّباعِ الرِّقَاقِ
Winning their hearts with the adornments
Possessing their hearts with decorum and gentle nature
Of character and gentle dispositions.
A preceding moon, expectations did not see
قَمَرٌa moon سَابَقَoutstripped الظُّنونَexpectations وَلَمْand did not يَرْobserve (first part)
قَمَرٌ سَابَقَ الظُّنونَ وَلَمْ يَرْ
عَ(completes 'observe') أَوَاناًa season لِمِثْلِهِfor one like him فِيin المَرَاقِيthe ascents
عَ أَوَاناً لِمِثْلِهِ فِي المَرَاقِي
A moon that outran expectations, never observing
The like of it on horizons
The proper season for one like him to ascend.
Was that leap of his to the heights
أَتُرَىdo you think كَانَwas ذَلِكَthat الوَثْبُthe leap مِنْهُfrom him
أَتُرَى كَانَ ذَلِكَ الوَثْبُ مِنْهُ
فِيin المَعَالِيlofty attainments مُعَجِّلاًhastening لِلمُحَاقِtoward the moon's disappearance
فِي المَعَالِي مُعَجِّلاً لِلمُحَاقِ
Could that leap of his
Hastening the descent?
To the heights have hastened his waning into darkness?
Or which ignoble one soared to it and shed
أَيُّwhat جَاٍٍa criminal (likely جانٍ) سَمَاrose إِلَيْهِtoward him فَأَجْرَىand made flow
أَيُّ جَاٍٍ سَمَا إِلَيْهِ فَأَجْرَى
دَمَهُhis blood الحُرَّnoble تَبَّmay perish أَهْلُthe people الشِّقاقِdiscord
دَمَهُ الحُرَّ تَبَّ أَهْلُ الشِّقاقِ
What criminal rose against him and spilled
His free blood, curse of discordant people
His noble blood? Perish the people of discord!
That rabble, evil is what their days of slavery left
ذَلِكَthat الرَّهْطُband بِئْسَwretched is مَاwhat تَرَكَتْهُleft it
ذَلِكَ الرَّهْطُ بِئْسَ مَا تَرَكَتْهُ
مِنْas تُرَاثٍa legacy أَيَّامُthe days الاِسْتِرْقَاقِenslavement
مِنْ تُرَاثٍ أَيَّامُ الاِسْتِرْقَاقِ
That band—how vile a legacy was left
If only the wicked were destroyed, nothing remains
By the days of enslavement!
But a blood-price of glory, spilled blood
لَوْif أُبِيدَwere annihilated الأَشْرَارُthe wicked لَمْnot تَفِwould suffice إِلاَّexcept
لَوْ أُبِيدَ الأَشْرَارُ لَمْ تَفِ إِلاَّ
دِيَةَthe blood-price المَجْدِglory بِالدَّمِwith the blood المُهْرَاقِspilled
دِيَةَ المَجْدِ بِالدَّمِ المُهْرَاقِ
Were the wicked annihilated, that would pay only
And ransom for brotherhood between the peoples of dhad
Glory's blood-price with the blood thus shed.
Woe to them, what did inciting
وَفِدىًand a ransom لِلإِخَاءِfor brotherhood بَيْنَbetween شُعُوبِpeoples
وَفِدىً لِلإِخَاءِ بَيْنَ شُعُوبِ
الضَّادِthe letter ḍād أَغْلَىthe dearest النُّفوسِsouls وَالأَعْلاَقِand treasures
الضَّادِ أَغْلَى النُّفوسِ وَالأَعْلاَقِ
And a ransom for brotherhood among the peoples
Mischief from the depths benefit them?
Of ḍād: the dearest souls and treasures.
They angered his mother; they increased
وَيْلَهُمْwoe to them مَاwhat أَفَادَهُمْbenefited them أَنْto يُثِيرُواstir up
وَيْلَهُمْ مَا أَفَادَهُمْ أَنْ يُثِيرُوا
فِتْنَةًstrife مِنْfrom خَبَائِثِvile impulses الأَعْمَاقِthe depths
فِتْنَةً مِنْ خَبَائِثِ الأَعْمَاقِ
Woe to them! What did it gain them to stir
Blame upon the martyr around necks
Strife from their deepest malice?
We are in an era in which the state of people
أَحْنَقُواthey enraged أُمَّهhis mother عَلَيْهِمْagainst them وَزَادُواand increased
أَحْنَقُوا أُمَّه عَلَيْهِمْ وَزَادُوا
ذِمَماًobligations لِلقَتِيلِto the slain فِيupon الأَعْنَاقِnecks
ذِمَماً لِلقَتِيلِ فِي الأَعْنَاقِ
They enraged his mother against themselves and increased
Changed from the law of the Creator
The debts to the slain borne upon people's necks.
The sweetly smiling returned in it more vicious
نَحْنُwe فِيin حِقْبَةٍan age تَحَوَّلَchanged حَالُthe condition
نَحْنُ فِي حِقْبَةٍ تَحَوَّلَ حَالُ
الخَلْقِhumankind فِيهَاin it عَنْaway from شِرْعَةِthe law الخَلاَّقِthe Creator
الخَلْقِ فِيهَا عَنْ شِرْعَةِ الخَلاَّقِ
We live in an age in which the condition
Than the fanged and sharp-toothed
Of humankind has departed from the Creator's law.
Where are the bloodstained claws from the fire bomber
عَادَbecame فِيهَاin it ذُوone with المَبْسَمِthe smile الحُلوِsweet أَضْرَىmore savage
عَادَ فِيهَا ذُو المَبْسَمِ الحُلوِ أَضْرَى
مِنْthan ذَوَاتِcreatures possessing الأَنْيَابِfangs وَالأشْدَاقِand jaws
مِنْ ذَوَاتِ الأَنْيَابِ وَالأشْدَاقِ
In it, the sweet-smiling man has become more savage
And demolisher of homes by burning?
Than creatures with fangs and jaws.
And the one who returns the breeze lethal gas
أَينَwhere دَامِيbloodstained الأظْفَارِclaws مِنْbeside قَاذِفْa hurler النَّاthe fire (first part)
أَينَ دَامِي الأظْفَارِ مِنْ قَاذِفْ النَّا
رِ(completes 'fire') وَمُفْنِيand a destroyer الدِّيَارِdwellings بِالإِحْرَاقِby burning
رِ وَمُفْنِي الدِّيَارِ بِالإِحْرَاقِ
What is the blood-clawed beast beside one who hurls
And the sinking of ships by capsizing?
Fire and lays dwellings waste by burning,
As if by science it directed in it
وَمُعِيدِand one who turns النَّسيمِthe breeze سُمّاًinto poison زُعَافاًdeadly
وَمُعِيدِ النَّسيمِ سُمّاً زُعَافاً
وَمُبِيدِand an annihilator السَّفينِships بِالإِغْرَاقِby sinking
وَمُبِيدِ السَّفينِ بِالإِغْرَاقِ
And turns the breeze into deadly poison,
Its might against the tyrants and debauched
And annihilates ships by sinking them?
And the doves deployed in the universe
لَكَأَنِّيindeed, it is as though I بِالعِلمِwith science سَخَّرَharnessed فِيهَاin it
لَكَأَنِّي بِالعِلمِ سَخَّرَ فِيهَا
بَأْسَهُits might لِلطُّغاةِfor tyrants وَالفُسَّاقِand the wicked
بَأْسَهُ لِلطُّغاةِ وَالفُسَّاقِ
It seems to me that science, in this age, has harnessed
Who knows the secret of survival other than the Everlasting?
Its might for tyrants and the wicked.
An ordeal, if death is salvation,
وَالحِمَامُand death المُصَيَّرُbrought about فِيin الكَوْنِthe universe
وَالحِمَامُ المُصَيَّرُ فِي الكَوْنِ
مَنْwho يَعْلَمُknows سِرَّthe secret البَقَاءِsurvival غَيْرَother than البَاقِيthe Everlasting One
مَنْ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّ البَقَاءِ غَيْرَ البَاقِي
And death, brought about within the universe—
Then from it, and the victory for the active
Who knows the secret of survival but the Everlasting One?
But perhaps I have strayed in judgment
مِحْنَةٌan ordeal إِنْif تَكُis المَنِيَّةdeath مَنْجَاa refuge (first part)
مِحْنَةٌ إِنْ تَكُ المَنِيَّة مَنْجَا
ةً(completes 'refuge') فَمِنْهَاthen from it وَالفَوْزُand victory لِلسَّباقِfor the swiftest
ةً فَمِنْهَا وَالفَوْزُ لِلسَّباقِ
An ordeal! If death is a refuge,
And judgments do not hold true absolutely
It is from this—and victory goes to the swiftest.
Great good may come from evil
بَلْrather لَعَلِّيperhaps I شَطَطْتُwent too far فِيin الحُكْمِjudgment
بَلْ لَعَلِّي شَطَطْتُ فِي الحُكْمِ
وَالأَحكَامُand judgments لاَnot تَستَقِيمُare sound فِيin الإِطْلاَقِunqualified assertion
وَالأَحكَامُ لاَ تَستَقِيمُ فِي الإِطْلاَقِ
Rather, perhaps I have gone too far in judgment,
When what it ranges is traversed
And judgments are not sound when left unqualified.
O martyr, his living example will remain
قَدْmay يَجِيءُcome الخَيْرُgood الكَبيرُgreat مِنَfrom الشَّرَّevil
قَدْ يَجِيءُ الخَيْرُ الكَبيرُ مِنَ الشَّرَّ
إِذَاwhen جَازَexceeds مَاwhat لَهُit has مِنْof نِطَاقِbounds
إِذَا جَازَ مَا لَهُ مِنْ نِطَاقِ
Great good may come from evil
Filling hearts and sights
When it passes beyond its bounds.
The Arab nation has tasted long humiliation
يَاO فَقِيداًdeparted one مِثَالُهُhis image الحَيُّliving لنْwill not يَبْرَحَcease
يَا فَقِيداً مِثَالُهُ الحَيُّ لنْ يَبْرَحَ
مِلْءَfilling القُلُوبِhearts وَالأَحدَاقِand eyes
مِلْءَ القُلُوبِ وَالأَحدَاقِ
O departed one, whose living image will never cease
And humiliation is bitter to taste
To fill hearts and eyes,
How can it forget the virtue of those
أُمَّةthe nation العُرْبِthe Arabs ذَاقَتِhas tasted الهُونَhumiliation أَحْقَاages (first part)
أُمَّة العُرْبِ ذَاقَتِ الهُونَ أَحْقَا
بَاً(completes 'ages') طِوَالاًlong وَالهُونَand humiliation مُرَّbitter المَذَاقِin taste
بَاً طِوَالاً وَالهُونَ مُرَّ المَذَاقِ
The Arab nation has tasted humiliation for ages
Who called for unity and put down the pact?
Long indeed, and humiliation is bitter to taste.
Better they exerted their resolve in binding
كَيْفَhow تَنْسَىforgets فَضْلَthe merit المُنَادِينَthose calling
كَيْفَ تَنْسَى فَضْلَ المُنَادِينَ
بِالوَحْدَةِfor unity وَالوَاضِعِينَand those establishing لِلمِيثَاقِfor the covenant
بِالوَحْدَةِ وَالوَاضِعِينَ لِلمِيثَاقِ
How could it forget the merit of those who called
Brotherhood and seeking harmony
For unity, and those who established the covenant,
Let him be for the new era a witness
وَالأولَىand those who أَفْنواspent العَزَائِمَresolve فِيin رَبْطِbinding
وَالأولَى أَفْنوا العَزَائِمَ فِي رَبْطِ
الأَوَاخِيbonds of brotherhood وَفِيand in التِمَاسِseeking الوِفَاقِconcord
الأَوَاخِي وَفِي التِمَاسِ الوِفَاقِ
And those who spent their resolve in binding
Immortalized by memory for his merit
The bonds of brotherhood and seeking concord?
Every sacrifice as you sacrificed is worthy
فَلتَكُنْso be لِلعَهْدِfor the era الجَدِيدِnew شَهِيداًa martyr
فَلتَكُنْ لِلعَهْدِ الجَدِيدِ شَهِيداً
خَالِداًimmortal بِالذِّكْرَىin remembrance عَنِthrough اسْتِحْقَاقِdeserved merit
خَالِداً بِالذِّكْرَى عَنِ اسْتِحْقَاقِ
So be a martyr for the new era,
Of reward from pride and concurrence
Immortal in remembrance, as you deserve.
Join today a comrade; you had been
كُلُّevery بَذْلٍsacrifice كَمَاas بَذَلتَyou sacrificed خَلِيقٌdeserving
كُلُّ بَذْلٍ كَمَا بَذَلتَ خَلِيقٌ
بِجَزَاءٍof a reward مِنَof الفَخَارِglory وِفَاقِfitting
بِجَزَاءٍ مِنَ الفَخَارِ وِفَاقِ
Every sacrifice such as yours deserves
The best of companions for the best of kings
A fitting recompense of glory.
If the obligation left behind had not stopped you
إِلحَقِjoin اليَوْمَtoday فَيْصَلاًFaisal فَلَقَدْfor indeed كُنْتَyou were
إِلحَقِ اليَوْمَ فَيْصَلاً فَلَقَدْ كُنْتَ
لِخَيْرِto the best of المُلُوكِkings خَيْرَthe best الرِّفَاقِcompanions
لِخَيْرِ المُلُوكِ خَيْرَ الرِّفَاقِ
Join Faisal today, for you were
You would not have tarried to join
The best of companions to the best of kings.
A burdening obligation
وَلَوِand if الوَاجِبُthe duty المُخَلَّفُleft behind لَمْnot يَثْنِكَheld you back
وَلَوِ الوَاجِبُ المُخَلَّفُ لَمْ يَثْنِكَ
لَمْnot تُلْفَwould you be found مُبْطِئاًslow بِاللِّحَاقِin joining
لَمْ تُلْفَ مُبْطِئاً بِاللِّحَاقِ
And had the duty left behind not held you back,
You carried out its burdens exhaustingly
You would not have been found slow to follow.
For it you have uprightness and broad vision
وَاجِبٌa duty مُرْهِقُexhausting in التَّكالِيفِdemands
وَاجِبٌ مُرْهِقُ التَّكالِيفِ
أَدَّيْتَyou fulfilled تَكَالِيفَهُits demands عَلَىdespite الإِرْهَاقِexhaustion
أَدَّيْتَ تَكَالِيفَهُ عَلَى الإِرْهَاقِ
A duty whose demands were exhausting,
Gleaming insight
You fulfilled its demands despite exhaustion.
You led well those you led in ministry by truth
لَكَyours was فِيهِin it بِتُّresolve (contextually بَتٌّ) قَوِيمٌsound وَرَأْيٌand a vision
لَكَ فِيهِ بِتُّ قَوِيمٌ وَرَأْيٌ
وَاسِعُwide الأُفْقِin horizon سَاطِعُradiant الإِشْرَاقِin illumination
وَاسِعُ الأُفْقِ سَاطِعُ الإِشْرَاقِ
In it you showed sound resolve and a vision
And fulfilled what traits demanded
Broad in horizon and radiant in illumination.
And you came with reform from where it is obtained
سُسْتَyou governed مَنْthose whom سُسْتَyou governed فِيin الوَزَارَةِthe ministry بِالحَقِّwith justice
سُسْتَ مَنْ سُسْتَ فِي الوَزَارَةِ بِالحَقِّ
وَوَفَّيتَand you fulfilled مَاwhat اقْتَضَتْit required مِنْof خَلاَقِmoral virtue
وَوَفَّيتَ مَا اقْتَضَتْ مِنْ خَلاَقِ
You governed those you governed in the ministry with justice,
In momentous or minute affairs
And fulfilled all it required of virtue.
O House of Haydar the generous I console you
وَأَتَيْتَand you undertook الإِصْلاَحَreform مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere يُؤْتَىit is approached
وَأَتَيْتَ الإِصْلاَحَ مِنْ حَيْثُ يُؤْتَى
فِيin الأُمُورِaffairs الجِسَامِweighty أَوْor فيin الدِّقَاقَsmall ones
فِي الأُمُورِ الجِسَامِ أَوْ في الدِّقَاقَ
And approached reform from its proper avenue,
And my tears from its heat other than flowing
In weighty affairs or in small ones.
Your calamity is our calamity, and as was the custom in love
يَاO بُنِيsons of حَيْدَرَHaidar الكِرَامَnoble أُعِزِّيكمْI offer you condolences
يَا بُنِي حَيْدَرَ الكِرَامَ أُعِزِّيكمْ
وَدَمْعِيand my tears مِنْfrom حَرِّهِtheir heat غَيْرُnot رَاقِsubsiding
وَدَمْعِي مِنْ حَرِّهِ غَيْرُ رَاقِ
O noble sons of Haidar, I offer you my condolences,
My brothers, our days and remaining ones
And my tears, from their burning heat, will not cease.
The Arabs shared your grief and every
رُزْوكُمْyour bereavement رُزْؤُناour bereavement وَكَالعَهْدِand as before فِيin الوُدِّaffection
رُزْوكُمْ رُزْؤُنا وَكَالعَهْدِ فِي الوُدِّ
خَوَالِيbygone أَيَّامِنَاour days وَالبَوَاقِيand those remaining
خَوَالِي أَيَّامِنَا وَالبَوَاقِي
Your bereavement is ours; our affection is as it ever was
Heart fluttered for their glory
In our days gone by and those that remain.
May God magnify your reward as you endured
شَاطَرَshared العُرْبُthe Arabs حُزْنَكُمْyour grief وَتَلَظَّىand blazed
شَاطَرَ العُرْبُ حُزْنَكُمْ وَتَلَظَّى
كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart لِمَجْدِهِمْfor their glory خَفَّاقِbeating
كُلُّ قَلبٍ لِمَجْدِهِمْ خَفَّاقِ
The Arabs shared your grief, and there blazed
And protect them from the woes of fate and time
Every heart that beats for their glory.
عَظَّمmay magnify اللهُGod أَجْرَكُمْyour reward مَاas long as صَبَرْتُمْyou endure
عَظَّم اللهُ أَجْرَكُمْ مَا صَبَرْتُمْ
وَوَقَاهُمْand may shield them مَكَارِهَcalamities الدَّهْرِtime وَاقِa protector
وَوَقَاهُمْ مَكَارِهَ الدَّهْرِ وَاقِ
May God magnify your reward as long as you endure,
And may a protector shield them from the calamities of time.
Partial English translation: 85 of 88 Arabic lines translated.